[Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions]
[Surface Transportation Board Semiannual Regulatory Agenda]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 22429]]



_______________________________________________________________________


Part LXV



Surface Transportation Board



_______________________________________________________________________

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

[[Page 22430]]



SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB)                                     




_______________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Ch. X

[STB Ex Parte No. 536; Sub-No. 6]

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

_______________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board, in accordance with the 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, is publishing a 
semiannual agenda of: (1) Current and projected rulemakings and (2) 
existing regulations being reviewed to determine whether to propose 
modifications through rulemaking. Listed below are the regulatory 
actions to be developed or reviewed during the next 12 months. 
Following each rule identified is a brief description of the rule, 
including its purpose and legal basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A contact person is identified for 
each of the rules listed below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq. (RFA), sets forth a number of requirements for agency 
rulemaking. Among other things, the RFA requires that, during the 
months of April and October of each year, each agency shall publish in 
the Federal Register a regulatory flexibility agenda, which shall 
contain:

    (1) A brief description of the subject area of any rule which 
the agency expects to propose or promulgate which is likely to have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities;

    (2) A summary of the nature of any such rule under 
consideration for each subject area listed in the agenda pursuant 
to paragraph (1), the objectives and legal basis for the issuance 
of the rule, and an approximate schedule for completing action on 
any rule for which the agency has issued a general notice of 
proposed rulemaking; and

    (3) The name and telephone number of an agency official 
knowledgeable concerning the items listed in paragraph (1).

    Accordingly, a list of proceedings appears below containing 
information about subject areas in which the Board is currently 
conducting rulemaking proceedings or may institute such proceedings 
in the near future. It also contains information about existing 
regulations being reviewed to determine whether to propose 
modifications through rulemaking.

    The agenda represents the Board's best estimate of rules which 
will be considered over the next 12 months. However, section 602(d) 
of the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 602(d), provides: ``Nothing in [section 602] 
precludes an agency from considering or acting on any matter not 
included in a regulatory flexibility agenda or requires an agency 
to consider or act on any matter listed in such agenda.''

    The Board is publishing its April 1999 regulatory flexibility 
agenda as part of the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and 
Deregulatory Actions. The Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and 
Deregulatory Actions is coordinated by the Office of Management and 
Budget pursuant to Executive Order 12866. The Board is 
participating in the program voluntarily to assist OMB.

Decided: February 12, 1999.

By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Clyburn.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

                                                Long-Term Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4520         Railroad Consolidation Procedures: Class Exemption for Transactions Subject to the       2140-AA03
            Statutory Consolidation Provision, Ex Parte No. 282 (Sub-No. 15)......................
4521         Safe Implementation of Board-Approved Transactions, STB Ex Parte No. 574.............    2140-AA50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                Completed Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4522         Market Dominance Determination--Product and Geographic Competition, STB Ex Parte No.     2140-AA51
            627...................................................................................
4523         Expedited Relief for Service Inadequacies, STB Ex Parte No. 628......................    2140-AA52
4524         Regulations for the Publication, Posting, and Filing of Tariffs for the                  2140-AA53
            Transportation of Property By or With a Water Carrier in the Noncontiguous Domestic
            Trace, STB Ex Parte No. 580...........................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 22431]]

_______________________________________________________________________


SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB)                    Long-Term Actions




_______________________________________________________________________




4520. RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION PROCEDURES: CLASS EXEMPTION FOR 
TRANSACTIONS SUBJECT TO THE STATUTORY CONSOLIDATION PROVISION, EX PARTE 
NO. 282 (SUB-NO. 15)

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  49 USC 10321; 49 USC 10505; 49 USC 11341; 49 USC 
11343 to 11346; 11 USC 1172; 45 USC 904; 45 USC 915; 5 USC 553; 5 USC 
559

CFR Citation:  49 CFR 1180

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Board is considering whether to expand the 
``nonconnecting carrier'' class exemption to embrace all transactions 
subject to the statutory consolidation provision, except (1) 
transactions involving the merger or control of at least two class I 
railroads; (2) transactions involving a reduction in the number of 
noncommonly controlled railroads serving any two points; (3) 
transactions involving a reduction from three to two in the number of 
noncommonly controlled railroads serving any interchange points.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            07/14/92                    57 FR 31165
NPRM Comment Period End         08/30/92
Internal Review of Comments      To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Additional Information: Statutory references to title 49 of the United 
States Code are prior to their amendment by the ICC Termination Act of 
1995, Pub. L. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803, which became effective on January 
1, 1996.

Agency Contact: Joseph H. Dettmar, Deputy Director, Office of 
Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1609
TDD: 202 565-1695
Fax: 202 565-9002
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA03
_______________________________________________________________________




4521. SAFE IMPLEMENTATION OF BOARD-APPROVED TRANSACTIONS, STB EX PARTE 
NO. 574

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  5 USC 553; 5 USC 559; 49 USC 721; 49 USC 10901; 49 
USC 10902; 49 USC 11323; 49 USC 11324; 49 USC 11325; 42 USC 4332

CFR Citation:  49 CFR 244; 49 CFR 1106

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) have proposed complementary regulations 
establishing procedures for the development and implementation of 
safety integration plans (SIPs) by railroads proposing to engage in 
certain merger, consolidation, or acquisition of control transactions 
with another railroad. Under the proposed rules, railroads seeking to 
consummate a Board-covered transaction would be required to file a 
written document with the FRA and the Board explaining how each step in 
implementing a contemplated transaction would be performed safely.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

ANPRM                           12/04/97                    62 FR 64193
ANPRM Comment Period End        02/19/98
NPRM                            12/31/98                    63 FR 72225
NPRM Comment Period End         03/01/99
Internal Review of Comments      To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Evelyn Kitay, Attorney, Surface Transportation Board, 
1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1563
TDD: 202 565-1695
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA50
_______________________________________________________________________


SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB)                    Completed Actions




_______________________________________________________________________




4522. MARKET DOMINANCE DETERMINATION--PRODUCT AND GEOGRAPHIC 
COMPETITION, STB EX PARTE NO. 627

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  49 USC 721; 49 USC 10707

CFR Citation:  None

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board has eliminated product and 
geographic competition as factors in market dominance determinations in 
railroad rate proceedings.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            04/29/98                    63 FR 24588
NPRM Comment Period End         06/29/98
Board Issued Final Decision - 
(Effective 1/17/99)             12/21/98

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Additional Information: Petitions for reconsideration have been filed.

Agency Contact: Thomas J. Stilling, Attorney, Surface Transportation 
Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423
Phone: 202 565-1558
TDD: 202 565-1695
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA51
_______________________________________________________________________




4523. EXPEDITED RELIEF FOR SERVICE INADEQUACIES, STB EX PARTE NO. 628

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  49 USC 721; 49 USC 11102; 49 USC 11123; 49 USC 10705

CFR Citation:  49 CFR 1146; 49 CFR 1147

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board adopted rules that establish 
expedited procedures for shippers and connecting railroads to obtain 
emergency (1146) and temporary (1147) alternative service from another 
rail

[[Page 22432]]

carrier when the incumbent carrier cannot properly serve shippers.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            05/12/98                    63 FR 27253
NPRM Comment Period End         07/15/98
Final Action                    12/28/98                    63 FR 71396
Final Action Effective          01/27/99

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Ellen D. Hanson, Deputy General Counsel, Surface 
Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423
Phone: 202 565-1558
TDD: 202 565-1695
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA52
_______________________________________________________________________




4524.  REGULATIONS FOR THE PUBLICATION, POSTING, AND FILING OF 
TARIFFS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF PROPERTY BY OR WITH A WATER CARRIER IN 
THE NONCONTIGUOUS DOMESTIC TRACE, STB EX PARTE NO. 580

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  49 USC 721(a); 49 USC 13702(a); 49 USC 13702(b); 49 
USC 13702(d)

CFR Citation:  49 CFR 1312

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Board revised its tariff filing regulations to eliminate 
the option of filing tariffs electronically with the Board through the 
Federal Maritime Commission's Automated Tariff Filing and Information 
System, which is being phased out effective May 1, 1999. The Board 
will, however, entertain special tariff authority requests by 
individual carriers seeking to file their tariffs in alternative 
electronic formats.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            12/02/98                    63 FR 66521
NPRM Comment Period End         01/04/99
Final Action                    02/03/99                     64 FR 5194
Final Action Effective          05/01/99

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: James W. Greene, Chief, Section of Tariffs, Office of 
Compliance and Enforcement, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1578
TDD: 202 565-1695
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA53
[FR Doc. 99-4920 Filed 04-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-F
